VIDEO: Farmers Protest Against Karnataka Government Over Hemavathi Express Link Canal, Set Tyres On Fire

Tumakuru: A massive protest broke out in Karnataka's Tumakuru against the Siddaramaiah-led government in the state against the Hemavathi Express Link Canal Project near Gubbi on Saturday. The protest was staged by farmer organisations, reported PTI. Members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also reportedly joined the agitation.

The protesters blocked the road and burnt tyres. Notably, the project aims to divert water to Magadi and Ramanagara. Some of the protesters were detained by the police.

Protesters Burning Tyres:

#WATCH | Karnataka: Farmers protest against the state government over the Hemavathi Express Link Canal through which water would be sent to Magadi and Ramanagara pic.twitter.com/MVkT0wuDaJ

— ANI (@ANI) May 31, 2025

As per the news agency, MLAs who joined the protest include B Suresh Gowda, GB Jyothi Ganesh. A group of seers from different religious Maths participated in the protest. They raised anti-government slogans.

Karnataka: Farmers in Tumakuru district are protesting against the Hemavati Link Canal project by setting fire on the national highway between Bengaluru and Shivamogga pic.twitter.com/E58mwwjve1

— IANS (@ians_india) May 31, 2025

The protesters termed the government's plan to divert the Hemavathi canal water to the neighbouring Bengaluru South district (Ramanagara) despite public opposition as "unscientific".

As per the protesters, the project will be detrimental to several taluks of Tumakuru district.

A heavy police deployment has been made in the area to avoid any untoward incident.

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